Bothersome Bee

**Lee** · June 14, 2022

While I usually focus my critter deterrent efforts on the
troublesome deer, rabbits, and birds that decimate a garden harvest rather quickly, I found myself in an usual situation today.

A bumble bee was floating around the tomato plants trying to collect pollen.... not good if I'm going to save seed... which now will be limited to the earlier ripening fruit.

Alas, I began chasing this bee around the garden and away from the tomato plants. (Fortunately no one was around to observe this crazy behavior..)
For some reason, the bumble bee had his mind set on the tomato blossoms. Perhaps the pepper, bean, cucumber, or squash blossoms were not to his liking.
Perhaps he was trying to avoid the honey bees collecting pollen from the other sources.
Perhaps he was trying to help me create new amazing varieties for future growouts. (He did seem to start with the Sungold plant...)

Eventually he got tired of me shooing him away and flew off.

Anyone else want to fess up to such sillyness in their gardens?

Lee

June 14, 2022	#1
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	Bothersome Bee While I usually focus my critter deterrent efforts on the troublesome deer, rabbits, and birds that decimate a garden harvest rather quickly, I found myself in an usual situation today. A bumble bee was floating around the tomato plants trying to collect pollen.... not good if I'm going to save seed... which now will be limited to the earlier ripening fruit. Alas, I began chasing this bee around the garden and away from the tomato plants. (Fortunately no one was around to observe this crazy behavior..) For some reason, the bumble bee had his mind set on the tomato blossoms. Perhaps the pepper, bean, cucumber, or squash blossoms were not to his liking. Perhaps he was trying to avoid the honey bees collecting pollen from the other sources. Perhaps he was trying to help me create new amazing varieties for future growouts. (He did seem to start with the Sungold plant...) Eventually he got tired of me shooing him away and flew off. Anyone else want to fess up to such sillyness in their gardens? Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.